ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has called for quick national and international measures to stop the flow of illegal funds from impoverished countries to financial havens.
On Thursday, he spoke at the OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission’s 7th International Seminar on “Combating Corruption – A Pre-Requisite for the Full Realization of All Human Rights and Sustainable Development” in Islamabad.
Fighting corruption, according to FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi, is critical to attaining sustainable development goals since illicit money flows from underdeveloped nations are damaging.
The foreign minister urged OIC members to aggressively explore new ideas and initiatives to strengthen the existing international framework for combating corruption and ending impunity.
He proposed that the OIC establish a protocol and implementation mechanism for mutual legal aid on corruption and stolen assets.
He emphasised the importance of developing a unified, transparent, and inclusive mechanism under the auspices of the United Nations to reinforce the international legal framework for monitoring illicit money flows and the restitution of stolen assets.
He also proposed the creation of a global beneficial ownership registry, as well as the review and revision of unequal investment treaties obtained through bribes.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, according to Shah Mahmood Qureshi, has presented a vision of a Pakistan devoid of corruption, based on Islamic teachings. Pakistan, he said, has taken steps to create and improve effective accountability, transparency, and integrity systems.
We are attempting to take a proactive three-pronged strategy to addressing corruption, which includes raising awareness, preventing corruption, and enforcing it. He stated that existing legislation has been updated in order to promote transparency and openness in the public sector, as well as to facilitate citizens’ right to information.
He noted that Pakistan’s Citizen Portal app has won international acclaim for its innovative use of technology to improve public service delivery.
Positive socioeconomic changes are obvious in the country as a result of our ongoing efforts.
